Container for rubber tires



J. E. ALLEN. CONTAINER FOR RUBBER TIRES.

FI.LED.JUNE 13. J92] Patented Jan. l6, 1923.

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'I'ES JAMES E. ALLEN, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

CONTAINER FOR RUBBER, TIRES.

Application filed June 13, 1921. Serial No. 476,980.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs E.,ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highland Park, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Containers for Rubber Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in containers for rubber tires and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description. My invention is particularly adapted to be used to shipor convey pneumatic tires from one point to another, and has among other objects to provide a light, inexpensive container for such rubber tires by means of which a number of such tires can be easily, quickly and cheaply enclosed so as to be properly protected and the entire number at the same time be easily handled and shipped or transported from place to place.

My invention has other objects which are particularly pointed out in the accompany. ing description and claims. Referring now to' the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing one form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the container with the tires removed;

Fig.3 is a plan View;

Fig. 4 is aview showing a modified con struction Fig. 5 is a view showing one form of fa tening band.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In carrying out my invention I provide two separated end pieces 1 and 2. These end pieces'are made of some rigid material, preferably metal, and are preferably shaped to conform more or lessto the exterior surface of the tire. These end pieces may be made thin and may be'formed with dies or in any other suitable manner. I prefer to have the outer edge of these end pieces longer than the inner edge, as shown for example in Fig. 2. These end pieces are preferably circular with an open or hollow interior as illustra ed in Fig. 3. Interposed between the end pieces 1 and 2 are the connecting pieces 3 and 4. These connecting pieces are preferably of cylindrical shape, and the upper and lower edges thereof project into the-end pieces 1 and 2. The connecting piece 4 is of smaller diameter than the connecting piece 3. These connecting pieces may be made of any suitable material and are pref erably made of some inexpensive material, such as fiber board, composition board, pasteboard, or the like. These connecting pieces may be made up in sheets each of one or more sheets, and then rolled into shape, the edges of the sheet or sheets being connected together by any suitable fastening devices (Sand 6*. The connecting pieces 3 and 4 are preferably not attached to the end pieces, and when the devices are not in use, these connecting pieces may be flattened out into sheets and piled so as to occupy a very small amount of space, while the end pieces can be piled one upon the other so as to occupy a very small space.

When it is desired to use the container, one of the end pieces 2 is placed on the floor or other support. The connecting pieces and 4 are then inserted in it, and the tires are then placed in position one upon the other until the desired number are in position. The end piece 1 is then placed in position and suitable straps or bands 7 are then placed about the end pieces and tightened so as to force the end pieces toward each other and compress the tires so as to make a tight package. These straps or belts may be made of metal, cloth, leather, or any other material and are adjustable so that they may be adjusted as desired. I may make these straps or bands so that the package cannot be tampered with without this fact being apparent to the receiver and I may use any desired means for this purpose. For example I may use metal bands or straps, the ends of which pass through a sleeve 8 (see Fig. 5) and arranged so that the ends overlap; The band is tightened by pulling on the ends to increase the overlap, and when sufliciently tight the sleeve 8 is compressed at the center 9 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to distort both the sleeve and the two sections of the metal band passing through it. This fastens them rigidly together and prevents them from being tampered with without this fact showing. When these bands are in position the several parts of the package are fastened together, and the package sealed ready for shipment. The package is easily handled by grasping the inner side of the end sections 1 or 2 whichever happens to be convenient. By making the inner edge of the sections 1 and 2 shorter than the outer edge, I provide a convenient means for taking hold of such end sections.

The entire package can be rolled around like a cylinder. It will be noted that in this package the devices contained in the package are not as it were on the inside of it, as the interior is simply a hollow space, the devices in the package being contained in the shell of the package as itwere.

It will further be noted that the tires in the container engage the thin flexible con necting sections or side pieces 3 and 4;, and thus tend to brace them, there being a mutual bracing effect between the sides and the contents of the container. The package may be arranged so that the space between the sections or connecting pieces 3 and 4 is substantially equal to the diameter of the tire.

The number of tires in any packagemay be controlled by the height of the connecting pieces 3 and 4. If a small number of tires are desired in the package, comparatively short connecting pieces will be used,

longer connectingpieces being used as more tires are desired in the container. If the container is used for example to ship tires to a distant point, the tires may be removed, the container taken apart, the connecting pieces 3 and l flattened out, and the end pieces 1 and 2 placed one within the other, and the device then shipped back at a .very low cost so that it can be used over and over. If desired I may make the connecting pieces 3 and 4 of such material that'they can be thrown away. and only the end pieces again used, with other connecting pieces.

In Fig. i I have shown a construction where the space between the connecting pieces 3 and 4 is greater than the diameter of the tire. This permits tires of various sizes to be-shipped in the same container, and also permits a larger number to be 'in serted. \Vhen such a container is provided, the tires 10 will be staggered shown in dotted lines, some part of each tire preferably engaging one or both of the connecting sections 3 and 4. It will be noted that with this construction the tires only engage each other at the crossing points, and hence when the end sections are placed in position, and the straps tightened, the tires will be compressed or collapsed at these crossing points so that a larger number can be placed in a container of a given height, that is alarger number than in a container of the same height and of the construction shown in Fig. 2.

I have shown a particular construction embodying the invention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims hereto attached, and I therefore do not-limit myself to the particular construction shown.

When filling the holder with tires, the tires preferably project above the ends of the connecting pieces 3 and l and the top piece 1 is then pressed down by any desired means so as to properly compress all the.

are received, and holding devices for bold ing the end pieces and connecting pieces in proper relation.

2. A container for rubber tires comprising two separated cylindrical end sections of rigid material shaped to conform to the outer surface of the tire, each having a central opening therethrough, two cylindrical connecting pieces, one within the other, projecting into the end piecesand forming a shell like receiving space into which the tires are received, and straps passing around said end pieces and through said central opening for holding the end pieces and the connecting pieces in proper relation.

3. A container for rubber tires comprising two separated cylindrical end sections of rigid material, shaped to conform tothe outer surface of the tire, each having a central opening therethrough, two cylindrical connecting pieces, one within the other, projecting into the end pieces and forming a shell like receiving space intowhich the tires are received, holding devices for holding the end pieces and connecting pieces in proper relation, and straps passing around said end pieces and through the central openings therethrough, said straps being adjustable so that they may be tightened to force the end pieces towards each other to cause the tires to tightly engage each other to hold them against relative movement.

4. A container for rubber tires comprising two end pieces formed with openings through the center thereof and having projecting flange portions, two connecting pieces located one within the other and having their edges overlapping the flange portions of the end pieces, and holding devices for holding the several parts in proper relation.

5. A container for rubber tires comprising two separated cylindrical. end sections of rigid material, shaped to conform to the outer surface of the tire, each having a central opening therethrough, two cylindrical connecting pieces, one within the other, projecting into the end pieces and forming a shell like receiving space into which the tires are received, holding devices for holding the end pieces and connecting pieces in proper relation, and straps passing around said end pieces and through the central openings therethrough, said straps being adjustable so that they may be tightened to force the end pieces towards each other to cause the tires to tightly engage each other to hold them against relative movement, and fastening means for fastening the ends of said straps after the straps are tightened, said fastening means arranged to indicate to the re ceiver of the package any tampering therewith by unauthorized persons.

6. A container for rubber tires comprising two separated end pieces each having a central opening therethrough, said end pieces having inner and outwardly projecting flange portions, two connecting pieces, one inside the other, the edges of the connecting pieces overlapping the flange portions of the end pieces so as to form a shell like space between them into which the tires are received, and holding devices passing around the end pieces and through the openings therein for holding the parts in proper position.

7. A container for rubber tires comprising two separated end pieces each having a central opening therethrough, said end pieces having inner and outwardly projecting flange portions, two connecting pieces, one inside the other, the edges of the connecting pieces overlapping the flange portions of the end pieces so as to form a shell like space between them into which the tires are received, said space being greater in width than the diameter of the tires inserted therein, and holding devices passing around the end pieces and through the openings therein for holding the parts in proper position.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 7th day of June, 1921.

JAMES E. ALLEN. 

